Chapter Twelve
Twelve
Wyatt
Me
What'cha think?
*sends mirror selfie*
Abi
Holy shit, you’re wearing a cowboy hat.
Me
Quinn insisted.
Abi
Looks good. That means you have…three now?
Me
Something like that. Quinn said I needed it to fit in.
Abi
And are you fitting in?
Hawkins
Hey man, I have some not so good, good news.
The text from Hawkins pulled me away from the chat with my sister.
It had been weeks since I had heard from him.
Weeks of silence and then ‘not so good, good news?’ What did that even mean?
Hawkins had been radio silent for weeks, only solidifying that I was most likely never going to announce again.
Keeping busy at the stables and being with Quinn was a nice distraction from the fact that I was still off committee lists, but now—Hawkins had my full attention.
Not even bothering to text him back, I hit his number to call.
“Hey, Wyatt,” he answered quickly, a slight shake to his normal, solid tone.
“Hey, Hawk.”
“I take it you saw my text.”
“Yeah, care to elaborate?” I took my new hat from my head and tossed it on my bed, glancing at the clock on the nightstand. 2:30 p.m.—I had to meet Quinn soon. “Quickly,” I added.
“In a rush?” he asked.
“Yes and no. What did you mean by not so good, good news?”
“I saw your name on a committee for Reno.”
My entire body flinched, and at the same time, a knot began to form in my stomach.
I couldn’t have heard him right. The Reno Rodeo was huge, one that I had yet to announce at.
It was just as big as Days of ‘47 in Utah, or Cheyenne Frontier Days in Wyoming…if my name was on the list for announcers, maybe my fuck-up wasn’t as bad as I really thought.
“Hawk, that’s great news, not just good news,” I said, my voice ragged as I soaked this in.
My mind ran through past events. I screwed up in October of last year, I bummed around until the NFR, then came home.
Bummed around some more…then finally started to work.
I never fully felt like myself. I missed the piece of me that I found behind the microphone.
This…this was hope in the form of a phone call.
I counted on my fingers. Three months until Reno. “For the entire week?” I asked, my hopes rising slightly even though I knew in the back of my mind there was a ‘not so good’ portion of this news.
“Well, that’s the thing.”
My shoulders slumped. Dude didn’t miss a beat. “I saw your name in the running, but they haven’t decided yet. Lucas is head of the committee this year, and he and Archie are pretty good friends…” He trailed off, not even needing to finish his sentence.
I rolled my neck back, closing my eyes. Of course, Lucas Tuck was friends with Archie Rollins, AKA the man I punched and caused to black out after breaking his nose.
“That’s the catch,” I grumbled. “So, my name may be there, but it’s not gonna happen, is what you’re telling me.”
The knock on my hotel door forced my attention.
I heard Quinn’s faint call of my name, and I stood, grabbing my hat from the bed and giving myself one last look in the mirror.
I didn’t dress up like I would if I were working, but I still wanted to look presentable.
Hell, people know my name, and if what Hawkins was telling me was true, people were starting to see me again.
My focus tonight would be on Quinn and her horses—that’s why I was there.
But I wouldn’t complain if someone came up and talked to me.
“That’s what I’m tellin’ you,” Hawkins sighed. “I’ll keep hyping you up, man, but—”
“Wyatt, are you ready?” Quinn called from the hall.
“Listen, I have to go. Thanks for calling me and letting me know. If something comes of it, great…if something doesn’t,”—I opened the door and came face to face with Quinn—“great.” That last great came out differently than the first, and I gathered it had everything to do with the stunning woman standing in front of me.
“Thanks, Hawk.” I lowered my phone and took Quinn in.
I had seen this girl dressed up and playful in a bar, beating my ass at a game of pool.
I had seen her in a T-shirt with jeans and worker boots, her hair pulled into a tight ponytail as she cared for her horses.
I had seen her in lounge pants and a tank top, reading a book as the world passed her by.
And now, I was seeing rodeo Quinn. She was dressed in full uniform, a turquoise button-up that had her sponsor patches sewn in, with a belt buckle from a win last year shining on her waist. Her hair was lightly curled under her hat, and her eyes…
fuck her eyes. Emerald green and beaming with confidence. I could get lost in those eyes…
And apparently, I was staring.
“Ready?” She chuckled, her body swaying to break me from my stupor.
I cleared my throat and gave her a nod, grabbing my coat before shutting the door behind me. In one swift motion, I put on my hat and slipped my phone in my pocket, doing my best to shove the call away.
“Who was that?” she asked, gesturing to my phone, more or less my ass.
I gave her a smirk. “Hawkins.”
“And Hawkins is…?” She drew out the s.
“An announcer buddy. He’s been keeping me up to date on all the committees, trying to get me back in the game.”
“Are you not already ‘in the game?’” She air quoted.
“It didn’t occur to you that I haven’t been working lately?”
I pressed the elevator button, my gaze drifting to the numbers rising as the elevator came up.
I listened to the mechanics of it, jabbing the button again with my finger, willing it to come a little faster.
I most definitely didn’t want to be talking about my employment status with Quinn—or anybody for that matter—and I was taking it out on the elevator button.
“You haven’t been working?” she answered, offering me a frown with a hint of confusion spreading across her features. “I figured you were taking the winter season off.”
The doors opened. I let Quinn step in first, then followed, once again jabbing the L button to the lobby.
“Did something happen?”
I twisted my lips and frowned. My inner monologue screaming, Well, she’s gonna find out somehow. But…I really didn’t want to go into specifics. That ‘somehow’ was not in the elevator.
“Remember how we came to the conclusion I’ve done some pretty stupid things?” I gave her a side eye.
“Yeah?” She huffed.
“Let’s just say my most recent stupid thing topped every other stupid thing and…” I heaved a sigh. “I’m not announcing.”
“You didn’t lose your card, did you?”
I shook my head. “Nah, not that drastic. But stupid enough to cause a rift in my career.”
An astronomical rift.
At least I had some semblance of hope now.
My name was on a committee. The Richest Rodeo in Americas committee.
This whole thing could blow over soon…ish.
I wasn’t expecting to get Reno; that was a long shot.
Almost as delusional as getting the NFR this year—but my name was back on a committee list. And that was something.
Leaving it at that, we worked our way through the lobby and to the stables, where her boys were waiting patiently.
Hook bobbed his head, whining as we got closer.
I dug in my pocket for the peppermint I put there just for him and held out my palm.
Quinn laughed as Hook and I shared a moment, her eyes all for Charming.
She hooked up his bridle and lead, guiding him to her trailer.
“Looks like you get the night off, bud.” I rubbed Hook's nose. “See you in a few hours.”
He huffed, making sure to be the loudest horse in the stables as we left.
“Stop spoiling him.” Quinn smiled at me as soon as I made it back to the trailer, just in time to see her hook up Charming and shut him in before she jumped off the back.
“Never.”
The arena was already packed with cowboys and cowgirls by the time we arrived, and Quinn was buzzing with anticipation. As soon as she parked the truck, I jumped into action, grabbing my hat and practically jogging to the trailer to tend to Charming.
“I can do this.” Quinn’s voice was clipped as she came up to the trailer.
I had it unlocked already, the door open, and my body halfway in to get her horse when I stopped in my tracks and pointed at her. “I’m here to help you, remember? Get checked in. I’ll get him saddled, and then you can warm up.”
Quinn held my gaze for a moment too long, biting her lower lip before she finally gave in, dipping her chin so the brim of her hat covered her eyes. She lingered a second longer before her feet jerked into action.
“Okay, I’ll be right back.” She flashed me a smile, then, without another word, she dashed off.
I guided Charming out, hooking him to the side of the trailer before I opened up the tack shed.
Clean shoes and hooves, check. Brushed coat, check.
Saddle blanket and reins, check. I strapped Charming up to the nines, picking the breast collar and bridle that matched Quinn’s blouse, and once he was done, he got a peppermint.
“He looks good, ready to ride.” Quinn came up behind me, forcing me to look over my shoulder as she reached out for Charming’s nose. “Hey, handsome man,” she cooed as Charming searched her palm for a treat. “You gave him a candy, didn’t you?”
“Maybe.” I sang, giving Charming one final scratch before dropping the brushes back in the tack. “I have to earn their love somehow.”
“Oddly enough, I don’t think that’s a problem. Hook is practically your horse now.”
“Oh, right—it’s your love I have to earn.”
“Wyatt!”
The call of my name made me stop, not even getting to hear the comeback that I knew was right on Quinn’s lips.
The smirk my stupid ass comment rewarded me faded as she glanced behind my shoulder.
A cowgirl, her bright pink blouse covered in sponsor patches, came dashing up to us, her face beaming as she got closer and closer.
“Wyatt!” She called again, practically jumping into my arms. “I haven’t seen you in so long. What has it been? Two years?”
“Hey…April,” I chuckled as she buried her head into the crook of my neck. “Yeah, about that I think.”
April pulled away from me, and before I could even react, her mouth was pressed against mine in an all-consuming kiss. Her hands slid down my chest until she gripped my waist, and a soft moan left her lungs as she broke the kiss.
“Two years too long,” she whispered, a moan lingering as she fluttered her eyes open.
Me? I was too stunned to say anything back.
Thankfully, Quinn wasn’t.
“April Grant, right?” She took a step forward as she cleared her throat, breaking whatever spell April was under.
Ha…I knew the spell. I had only been trying to cast it on the girl to my right since meeting her.
April released me and took a step back. “Oh yes, hi. I’m so sorry. I just…haven’t seen him in a long time and got”—her eyes shifted over to me—“carried away.”
Quinn shrugged. “I don’t mind. I’m Quinn, by the way.” She held out her hand. “Quinn Compton. We’ll be racing against each other this evening.”
“Right!” April stepped to my side, taking Quinn's hand and shaking. “You’re Lance and Helen’s daughter. Great to meet you.” Once she let go of Quinn, her attention turned right back to me. “I didn’t know you were announcing tonight.”
“I’m not.” I reached out for Charming’s reins. “I’m Quinn’s assistant for lack of a better word.”
“He’s agreed to help me with my horses this trip,” Quinn added, tilting her head to me, giving me a cheeky smirk. “So yeah, assistant sounds about right.”
“You’re traveling together?”
“Yup.” Quinn popped the P.
“Oh, I had no idea.” April furrowed her brow for a millisecond before offering me a knowing grin. “I miss hearing your voice. I was hoping since you were here—”
“Nah.” I interrupted her. “Still technically on sabbatical.” That’s what Sam called it?
Right? “But it was good to see you. You’re right—it’s been way too long.
” I reached up, moving a flyaway hair from her shoulder, making sure it was perfectly blended in with the rest of her golden locks.
I could literally see her swoon with one gesture.
Now if only that would work on some other barrel racer.
“We’re all going out tonight after the rodeo. Join us,” she cooed, taking a step closer to me, her hands landing on my chest.
Normally, I’d jump at the chance, but tonight, I couldn’t think of anything better than hanging out with Quinn. I didn’t even know if that was in the cards, but looking at Quinn right now, I didn’t want to be anywhere else.
“Ah.” I turned on my disappointed sigh. “You know I’d love to, but I’m here with Quinn. I gotta help her with Charming and make sure everything is okay. Plus, we leave early tomorrow morning for Phoenix—”
She frowned, pleading almost as she slumped her shoulders. “Okay, then. If you’re sure. But…” She raised on her tiptoes and gave me a chaste, fleeting kiss, one that would have sent me into a spiral wanting so much more before. “My number is the same if you change your mind.”
I hummed, the knot in my stomach unraveling as she walked away. Blinking, I turned back to Charming, noticing the pinched, smug expression on Quinn’s face right away. It was a mixture between amusement and…was that…jealously?
It can’t be. Quinn? Jealous? Over me?
I was reading too much into it.
She most likely just wanted to tease the hell out of me for what just happened.
“Don’t say anything,” I said sternly.
She pursed her lips, waving a hand in the air. “Wasn’t gonna.”
“You look like you were gonna.”
“Oh, but Wyatt.” She placed her hand to her chest, doing her best impression of April, adding a bit more Valley girl flair. It was fucking adorable. “It’s been too long. Two years too long.”
I raised an eyebrow. “She’s a very talented girl.” I motioned back to where April had come from. “She just got overly excited.”
Quinn let out a soft chuckle. “Go chase if you want. Don’t stop on my account.”
“Chase?” I repeated the word, a coy grin spreading across my lips. “Come on, Quinn, there’s only one girl I want to chase right now.” I handed her Charming’s reins, holding her eye contact for longer than necessary. There I go…getting lost in the sea of emerald.
I blinked, forcing myself back to dry land. “Come on, let’s get you in that field for a minute before the race.” I bounced my eyebrows, turned to shut the tack shed, and walked off—grateful when I heard Charming’s hooves his the concrete from behind me.